As you drive your daily commute, you are bound to stop at an intersection with a crosswalk. For the first time since 2003, pedestrian fatalities in Nebraska are in the double digits. Officials already have ten recorded for 2012 and they are clueless on who to blame.
"I think it's a combination of both. It depends. If someone is walking between two cars in the middle of the street, or coming out into the street, the driver is not going to see you between two cars. But the driver, too, needs to be aware of things coming at him," said Donald Dreyer, captain of KPD.
A review of the 2012 pedestrians fatality report shows that three victims were small children ages two and under; two incidents involved drunk driving, and one crash involved a pedestrian under the influence of alcohol. There is a small correlation on when fatalities are likely to happen.
"Unfortunately fatalities occur at all the times of the day. During the daytime, small children are involved. In the evenings, many people are celebrating at bars and consuming alcohol, and at that time of night, we see alcohol related pedestrian injuries," said Rose White, AAA director.
We saw a family jaywalking today as well. I tried to get the guardian to comment on the situation, but she had no comment. The same speechlessness comes from resident Tristan Wilkies who crossed the street at the wrong time. No matter who is at fault, officials are saying again that both sides need to be on alert.
"If both sides are being aware with what they are doing then it's kind of a two-way street," said Dreyer.
REPORTER'S NOTES: Here are some tips for pedestrian safety.
- Pedestrians should always stay alert when walking near traffic.
- Avoid texting and using electronic devices that cause distractions.
- Always cross in the crosswalks.
- Motorists should stay alert when turning at corners, and specifically look for pedestrians near the crosswalk.
- Use extreme caution when turning right on a red light as pedestrians or bicyclists may be crossing. Stay alert in neighborhoods where children may run into the street.
